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The Lali

​In this episode of ‘Instruments of the Moana’ we delve into the wooden slit drum family, which inhabits many realms amongst the Moana Pacific islands and oceans. Our journey spans the Cook Islands, the Solomon Islands, Niue, Tonga and Fiji, where we meet esteemed knowledge holders who share the traditions, stories and practices that surround these instruments across the Moana.

Our voyage begins in the picturesque waters of Rarotonga, where host Tau’ili’ili Alpha Maiava introduces us to the enchanting rhythms and stories of the Moana people. "These beautiful waters you see behind me hold a significant part in every Moana person's story," he remarks, emphasising the deep connection between the ocean and the islands' cultural practices.

While the smaller and lighter pātē or tōkere are more visible today in the performance arena, their larger cousin (known among the Polynesian islands as ‘lali’, ‘logo’, or ‘nafa’) is far less prominent than it once was. Ma’ara Maeva, Educator at the Auckland War Memorial Museum | Tāmaki Paenga Hira, introduces us to the ‘kā'ara’, a sacred drum used only for special occasions, explaining its distinctive design and profound cultural importance.

Next, in the Solomon Islands, renowned indigenous instrumentalist and composer John Houkarawa reveals the various names and roles of wooden drums in his community. "For wooden drums, we have specific names for each instrument," he notes, describing how these drums served as vital communication tools long before modern technology.

In Niue, Director of Tāoga Niue Museum Moira Enetama describes how the lali, known as the ‘logo telie’ in Niue, was adapted into Christian practices and used as a church bell. Meanwhile in Samoa, Ta'iao Dr. Matiu Matavai Tautunu recounts the lali's historical use in the fono lu’ulu’u, a call-to-action in preparation for war. From Fiji, Simione Sevudredre speaks about the island of Kabara, where master craftsmen continue to create these iconic instruments, highlighting their spiritual connection.

Throughout this episode, we uncover the intricate traditions and stories surrounding the lali, logo and nafa. We learn that they are not only musical instruments but carriers of cultural identity and continuity. As Tau’ili’ili concludes, "The next time you hear the sound of the lali, or logo, or nafa, or the symphony of Solomon Island drums, remember that they're not just random beats— it just might be a message from the ancestors, or from the divine."

Host: Tau’ili’ili Alpha Maiava
Knowledge holders: Ma’ara Maeva, John Houkarawa, Moira Enetama, Ta'iao Dr. Matiu Matavai Tautunu, Tu’ifonualava Kaivelata, Simione Sevudredre
Written by: Tau’ili’ili Alpha Maiava
Directed by: Tau’ili’ili Alpha Maiava & Guy Pigden
Filmed & Edited by: Campfire Studios NZ
Director of Photography: Isaac Newcombe
Production Lead: Will Flemming
Editor: Sam Wheeler
Graphics: Ben Ashby
Soundscape: Tomas Iglesias
Sound design & mix: Envy Studios
Colourist: Dave Mclaren
Research Assistant: Huni Mancini
Cultural Advisors: Tu’ifonualava Kaivelata, Ma’ara Maeva, Dionne Fonoti

Locations:
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Auckland, NZ

Special thanks to: 
Archive of Māori and Pacific Sound
Vanuatu Culture Center
Gallery Tavioni & Vananga
Alexander Turnbull Library
Auckland War Memorial Museum I Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
Ministry of Culture & Heritage
Mahi Moana Inc.

Tagata Moana Cultural Lead: Mahi Moana Incorporated

Produced by: SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music I Toi te Arapūoru

This film is supported by funding from Manatū Taonga | The Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

© Copyright Centre for New Zealand Music Trust